Methods and systems for protecting personal account information

ABSTRACT

The invention provides systems and methods for protecting information related to personal accounts and other kinds of information displayed on personal and identification cards. In some embodiments, the invention further provides a credit card with a card portion displaying a first part of an account number and an electronically readable region. The credit card may also include a sleeve portion that holds the card portion and that may display a second part of an account number. The sleeve portion may have a window through which the first part of the account number is visible, so that the first and second parts of the account number provide a complete valid account number.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/669,312, filed on Nov. 5, 2012, which is acontinuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/731,126,filed on Mar. 24, 2010, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,302,858, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/163,015, filedMar. 24, 2009, each of which is entirely incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention relates to account information security. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to credit card security utilizingseparable credit card components that are carried together andmechanically joined as needed to provide complete account informationfor effecting transactions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides systems and methods for protecting informationrelated to credit card accounts and other kinds of information displayedon personal and identification cards.

Various aspects of the invention described herein may be applied to anyof the particular applications set forth below or for any other types ofinformation displayed on account or identification cards. This includesATM cards, gift cards, driver's licenses or any other type of card thatcontains personal or confidential information. The invention may beapplied as a standalone system or method, or as part of an integratedfraud prevention solution. It shall be understood that different aspectsof the invention can be appreciated individually, collectively, or incombination with each other.

An aspect of the invention is directed to an effective mechanicalapproach for enhancing credit card security by way of a multi-pieceseparable credit card. A new and convenient way is thus provided fortypical credit card users to effectively deal with the hazards of“skimming” or the theft of credit card information thereby minimizingincidents of unauthorized credit card use.

A preferable embodiment of the invention provides a separable creditcard that is mechanically detachable. It can be constructed and formedwith at least two components, namely a card component and a sheathcomponent. Both components may be carried together or separately. Thesheath component may include a first portion containing an embossed orimprinted credit card account number, and the card component may containa second portion of the credit card account number. The sheath componentmay be formed with a window or cut-out portion to allow display of thesecond portion of the credit card account number when the card componentis inserted and stored therein. Accordingly, the complete credit cardaccount number is not visible or provided when the card and sheathcomponents are separated but available and visible when both combined.

Another aspect of the invention provides a separable credit card thatmay be employed with existing credit card embossing machines andelectronic account access apparatus. Card components provided hereinpreferably include a magnetic strip that is fully functional when theyare either combined or separate from their respective sheath or coveringcomponents. When both components are combined, a partial account numberembossed on either component visually come together and allow viewing ofthe complete account number. In preferable embodiments, the sheathcomponent may be formed with a cut-out portion, transparent windowcovering or other kind of opening or viewing pane that allows viewing ofa partial account number appearing on the card component housed therein.The complete account number is thus provided for impressions or viewingto carry out transactions with either electronic or non-electronic,mechanical embossing style credit card swiping machines.

In preferable embodiments of the invention, separable credit cards orother kinds of personal cards carried by an individual are: formed withconventional materials and rugged in construction; economic tomanufacture; and easily used by anyone without extra hassle. The cardcomponents may be easily removed and replaced from their respectivecoverings. For example, a covering may remain in a wallet, card purse orother credit card holding device so that “complete” a credit card numberis not as easily accessible or plainly visible to potential thieves. Anecessary or remaining portion of the credit card number residing on thecovering remains secure in the possession of the user while a cardcomponent is removed to complete a transaction. Accordingly, the cardcomponent that is formed with a magnetic stripe can be swiped fortransactions and purchases but contain only a portion of a credit cardnumber to avoid skimming of the account number which would otherwiseappear completely on a typical credit card.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a separable credit card maybe provided wherein a covering component displays portions of multipleaccount numbers, and a card component displays the remaining portions ofsuch multiple account numbers. The covering component may be formed witha viewing pane that allows viewing of the remaining portions of multipleaccount numbers from the underlying card component. Accordingly,complete account numbers are visibly displayed when both components arecombined.

Other goals and advantages of the invention will be further appreciatedand understood when considered in conjunction with the followingdescription and accompanying drawings. While the following descriptionmay contain specific details describing particular embodiments of theinvention, this should not be construed as limitations to the scope ofthe invention but rather as an exemplification of preferableembodiments. For each aspect of the invention, many variations arepossible as suggested herein that are known to those of ordinary skillin the art. A variety of changes and modifications can be made withinthe scope of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each individual publication, patent, or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional credit card containing frontcard information and a complete credit card number.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a card portion containing partial accountinformation provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a sheath portion containing remaining accountinformation that is formed with an opening.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a sheath portion and a card portion, wherebypartial account information on the card portion is visible through theopening of the sheath portion which together provides a credit card withthe complete account information appearing thereon.

FIG. 5 illustrates a user account card having one or more regions fordisplaying partial account information and/or complete accountinformation.

FIG. 6 illustrates a covering for enclosing or mating with the useraccount card in FIG. 5 having one or more regions for displaying partialaccount information and/or cut-out regions or openings that correspondto and allow for the display of partial account information appearing onthe user account card.

FIG. 7A-C illustrates sleeves that may contain or house a variety ofcards provided herein that include account information in accordancewith an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

While preferable embodiments of the invention are shown and describedherein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that suchembodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations,changes, and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention. It should beunderstood that such alternatives to embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein may be employed in practicing the invention.

FIG. 1 is a conventional credit card 10 containing front cardinformation including a complete credit card (account) number 0000 00000000 0000. The card 10 may include a magnetic strip 26 located on thetop or upper region on the back side of the card. In addition, the frontside of the card 10 may display the name 14 of the financial institutionor company issuing the credit card. A hologram 24 or other decals orstickers used to make fakes cards more difficult to produce can be foundon the front card too. Preferably a portion of the credit card number0000 is embossed on top of or over the hologram 24. The complete creditcard number often appears generally along the middle portion of thefront side of card 10. Other information appearing on the front side ofa credit card 10 includes the valid thru (expiry) date for the card andthe name 16 of the card bearer or account owner 16 towards the bottomportion of the card. A variety of logos or marks 22 which indicate thekind of credit card are s usually displayed on the front of the cardalso.

FIG. 2 illustrates a credit card portion provided in accordance with theinvention that may be formed with a plastic body or other kinds ofmaterials used for credit cards. As with conventional credit cards asillustrated in FIG. 1, a variety of imprinted or embossed items orinformation can be similarly provided thereon such as the identity of anissuing bank, the name of a credit card holder, a credit card expirationdate and optionally a credit card logo. In addition, a hologram can beimprinted over at least a portion of the partial account number 25 tomake tampering and alteration of the credit card portion more obvious todetect and difficult to accomplish. Although described as a “credit cardportion” with respect to this embodiment of the invention, it shall beunderstood that this could be referred to plainly as a “credit card”interchangeably herein.

Furthermore, a partial credit card account number 25 is provided on thefront side of the card in accordance with the invention as shown in FIG.2. On the back of the card portion, there can be formed thereon anelectro-magnetic data strip. This card portion alone may not be usedwith typical credit card embossing machines in this embodiment of theinvention since it contains only a partial credit card account number.The card visibly contains only partial account information and may notbe used to transact manual transactions. But the card can still be usedsecurely for authorizing transactions electronically, which is likelythe most common means to complete a credit card transactions today orhow most purchases are made by users when present. The card with avisible partial credit card account number can be swiped throughtraditional electronic apparatus so that the magnetic strip conveys thecredit card account information for approval electronically.

The cards containing only partial credit card account information hereinprovides added security. There are many occasions when an individualreleases possession of a credit card to conduct a transaction oractivity. Traditional credit cards display the complete account numberand all other information plainly on the front face of the card. Thecredit card number in its entirety can be misappropriated by memorizingor copying (skimming) the front card information or series of numbers.Meanwhile, the cards provided herein preferably include “partial”account numbers or information and do not contain “complete” accountnumbers or any selected front/back card information thereon. Becausemost credit card transactions today are efficiently and quicklyconducted by swiping a credit card through a point of sale terminal orelectronic card reading apparatus, the cards herein can be used tocomplete transactions without exposing complete account information.

Furthermore, the partial account information appearing on the creditcard is plainly visible and can be compared by a merchant to anauthorization receipt or document. For example, a bartender or servercan compare and confirm that the series of digits or characters matcheswith partial account information that may be electronically read andprinted on a receipt after the card is swiped. For example, the lastfour digits of a credit card number (XXXXXXX X1234) that iselectronically read and printed on a customer receipt or bill can becompared to and confirmed by the partial account information that ishumanly readable on the face of the card portion 1234). Otherelectronically read and displayed information from the magnetic stripe(holder name, bank name, expiration date, credit card verificationnumbers, type of credit card—American Express, Visa, MasterCard,Discover) can be compared to the visible information appearing on theface of the card portion to further or better validate the credit card.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sheath portion provided in accordance with theinvention. As with a credit card portion shown in FIG. 2, the sheath mayinclude only partial account information (0000 0000 0000 - - -). Otherremaining account information (last four digits 0000) residing on anenclosed card portion can visibly appear through a cut-out portion orwindow formed in the sheath portion when placed together. Again mostmerchants can still perform a credit card swipe for a transactionwithout complete credit card account information appearing on the faceof the card. So the sheath portion can remain in the wallet orpossession of a customer, while the card portion can be taken out andreleased into the custody of a merchant or the agent or employee of suchmerchant (however, if the electronically functional card component islost or stolen then the card may be similarly used by another in makingunauthorized transactions which is already an inherent security riskwith current credit cards to be guarded against). The card portion canbe swiped by the merchant and run through an automated verificationsystem (AVS) or electronic verification system (EVS). Data from the cardportion can be obtained through the magnetic stripe, barcode, chip(smartcard) or other adopted electronic based medium. The sheathportion, which contains remaining account information, is not needed forthe card swipe and remains with the customer. It shall be understoodthat any of the sheath portions herein include credit card “skins” ordecorative skins with decals, personalized designs and advertisements.

For example, when a customer enters a bar or drinking establishment toopen a tab, a credit card portion as provided herein can be relinquishedto a bartender or server. While the card may be legitimately swiped forto pay a bill eventually, the entire credit card number remains securedwhile the card portion with partial account information is out of thepossession of the customer. Even if untrustworthy staff, fellowcustomers, thieves or others come into the possession of the card or areotherwise able to view the account information, they would at best onlybe able to obtain partial account information which would be of limitedvalue or useless (a first portion of a numerical key). The rest of theaccount information residing on the sheath portion would be remainsecure and in the wallet or possession of the customer (a secondcomplementary portion of a numerical key).

FIG. 4 illustrates a complete credit card provided in accordance withthe invention that can by used to conduct both electronic andnon-electronic transactions. The credit card may include a separablesleeve portion and a card portion, whereby partial account informationon the card portion is visible through the opening of the sleeve portionwhich together provide a complete credit card with the entire accountinformation plainly visible thereon.

In particular situations, a customer may elect or be asked to presentboth the credit card and sleeve portion together. For example, when amerchant uses a mechanical credit card imprint apparatus, the customercan present both portions. This instance would call for the entirecredit card account information to be provided in human readable format.The credit card and sleeve are preferably formed so their overall sizeand dimensions are substantially the same as conventional credit cards.This will allow the separable credit cards provided herein to fit intothe slots and groves commonly found in credit card imprint apparatus. Insome embodiments of the invention, the sleeve may be formed with a backside that fully covers the back side of the credit card. This mayprotect the magnetic stripe of the credit card from damage. Otherembodiments may include sleeves that enclose or substantially cover aselected front region, e.g., bottom half, of the card that usuallydisplays a credit card account number and/or a selected back region,e.g. bottom half or whole backside.

Similarly, in other situations where the holder of a credit card wantsto use both the credit card portion and sheath together in an electroniccard reading apparatus, the magnetic stripe on the back side of thecredit card can be swiped. In some embodiments of the invention, thesheath may be formed with a backing or backside that does not fullycover the back side of the credit card thereby leaving the magneticstripe exposed. This can allow the separable credit cards providedherein to fit into the slots and groves commonly found in credit cardreading apparatus. For example, the card and sheath can together slideinto the credit card readers used at gasoline stations offerpay-at-the-pump options. Both portions can remain together and swipedalso in card readers used by merchants connected to a credit cardauthorization network whereby cards are held by hand and swiped sidewaysor upside down. Alternatively, the fully functional magnetic stripe ofthe credit card can be de-coupled from the display of the full creditcard account number or information. Only when the credit card iscombined or coupled together with the sheath is the complete accountnumber visibly provided.

It shall be understood that cards provided herein may confirm tostandards setting bodies or card standards such as internationalstandard ISO 7810, including the commonly used ID-1 format, ID-2, ID-3and ID-1000 formats. The ID-1 format specifies a size of 85.60×53.98 mm(3.370×2.125 in). It is commonly used for banking cards (ATM cards,credit cards, debit cards, etc.) and also for driving licenses in manycountries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,Norway, and European Union countries. This format is also used as apersonal identity card in some other countries like Chile, Pakistan,Peru or Switzerland, in retail loyalty cards, and it is one fairlycommon format for business cards. In general, the proportion of sides is1.5858, smaller than golden ratio (1.618:1). Other related formatsinclude ISO 7813 which defines additional characteristics of ID-1plastic banking cards. For example, having a thickness of 0.76 mm andcorners rounded with a radius of 3.18 mm. ISO 7811 defines traditionaltechniques for recording data on ID-1 identification cards, namelyembossed characters and several different magnetic recording formats.ISO 7816 defines ID-1 identification cards with an embedded chip(smartcard) and contact surfaces for power, clock, reset and serial-datasignals. ISO 14443 defines identification cards with an embedded chip(proximity card) and a magnetic loop antenna that operates at 13.56 MHz(RFID). More recent International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)standards for Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTDs) specify acryptographically signed file format and authentication protocol forstoring biometric features (photos of face, fingerprint and/or iris) inISO 14443 RFID chips. These and other card formats may be applied to theinvention herein.

In preferable embodiments of the invention, the magnetic stripe on theback of a card portion is still functional and can be swiped throughelectronic credit card readers when the card portion is combined orseparated from the sheath portion (see FIG. 3). Preferably, the sheathportions are formed with a paper or plastic material having a totalthickness of less than or equal to 0.5 cm, 0.4 cm, 0.3 cm or 0.2 cm. Asheath with a relatively thinner thickness will more likely slide intoor through electronic/magnetic card reading apparatus. However thesheath is preferably durable enough and of sufficient thickness towithstand a printing or embossing process that places partial account orcredit card information thereon. The sheaths (or coverings/sleeves)provided in accordance with the invention herein can be formed from avariety of materials including plastics and different kinds of papers.In some embodiments, sheathes can be formed with Tyvek (DuPont) that isknown to protect the magnetic information contained within the stripe.While the sheath in these illustrated embodiment of the invention may beformed to cover only a portion of the card portion, it shall beunderstood that the entire card may be covered or protected in otherembodiments of the invention (see generally FIGS. 7A-C).

Additional aspects of the invention provide a multi-component personalcard that can be carried by an individual. While some part(s) of thecard can be released from the possession of the individual to thirdparties to relay information or authorize a transaction, a remainingpart of the card can remain safely behind. As described with otheraspects of the invention related to credit cards, many concepts providedin accordance with the invention can be applied to other kinds of cardscarried by individuals such as a debit card, gift cards, personalidentification, drivers licenses, passes membership cards. These andother kinds of cards carrying personal or sensitive information usuallycarried by individuals in wallets, purses or other card holding devicescan also be protected by the invention. In addition, the multi-componentcards provided herein can be formed of two or more parts each carrying aportion of the entire information for one or more accounts normallydisplayed on the front and back of a card. It shall be understoodhowever that many of the preferred embodiments illustrated hereinprovide two-piece cards that can be carried by the individual in amanner like any other card.

For example, another two piece embodiment of the invention is describedin FIGS. 5-6. FIG. 5 illustrates a user account card having one or moresections (5A-5E) for displaying partial and/or complete card (account)information. FIG. 6 illustrates a skin or covering for mating with thecard in FIG. 5 which can also have one or more section (6A-6E) fordisplaying partial card (account) information and/or cut-out regions oropenings. The cut-out regions formed in the skin can correspond to andallow for the display of partial information appearing on the cardtherein.

For example, FIG. 5 can represent a front/back card of the user accountcard, and FIG. 6 can represent a corresponding separable front/backskin. The card can be at least partially enclosed within the skin aswith other described embodiments of the invention herein. Both can beconfigured and designed to cooperate with each other to provide a cardvisibly displaying complete card information when combined. However whenseparated, each may only contain and display partial card informationthus providing security of the card when the card or sleeve is releasedfrom the physical possession of the user.

For preferable embodiments of the invention, 5A and 5B may be two (ormore subdivided) sections within a first designated card region fordisplaying selected information (including but not limited to an accountnumber appearing on the front of a credit card), while 6A and 6B may betwo (or more subdivided) sections of a designated skin regioncorresponding the selected information. The entire credit card numbercan be divided into two parts and imprinted or embossed on the card andskin. A first part of the credit card number can be located in section5B, while the second part of the credit card number can be located insection 6A. In this example, sections 5A and 6B would not form any partof the entire and true credit card number and could thus be left blank,cut-out or formed as an opening, crossed-out (XXX) and/or contain dummyor fake numbers or characters. When the card is inserted into the skin,the first part of the credit card number in section 5B can thereforeappear through a window formed in section 6B and visually combinedtogether with the second part of the credit card number appearing insection 6A of the skin. As described elsewhere herein, the card can beformed with a magnetic stripe formed on the opposite side of the card toconduct electronic based transactions and swiping while maintainingsecure the selected information such as an entire credit card number. Itshall be understood that other card information appearing on thefront/back of the card can be secured in this manner.

In preferable embodiments of the invention, section 6A of the skin caninclude part of a series of imprinted or embossed numbers according tothe number of digits and sequence adopted by Visa or MasterCard, AAAABBBB CCCC - - - . Section 5B of the card can include the remaining lastfour digits DDDD which appear through the window formed in section 6B ofthe skin.

In other preferable embodiments of the invention, section 6A of the skincan include part of a series of imprinted or embossed numbers accordingthe number of digits and sequence adopted by American Express, 1111222222 - - - . Section 5B of the card can include the remaining lastfive digits 33333 which appear through the window formed in section 6Bof the skin.

In additional embodiments of the invention, the entire series ofimprinted or embossed numbers can be included on only either the card orthe skin. For certain situations, a person may not want to release acard containing any portion of an account number. The card sections 5Aand 5B could thus remain blank, masked, crossed-out (XXX) or containfake numbers. Meanwhile the card having a magnetic stripe (computerchip, barcode etc.) can be removed from the skin in order to complete anelectronic based transaction regardless of the validity or presence ofinformation displayed in sections 5A and 5B. At the same time, if neededupon request or on demand, the skin and card may be presented togethersuch that the skin sections 6A and 6B display the entire account number.As with other embodiments of the invention herein, other information orindicia displayed on the card/skin portions can be used to authenticateor validate the card or bearer, and/or otherwise confirm that the cardand skin portions match each other.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, the card and skin may include other designatedand corresponding card and skin regions for displaying selectedinformation. For example, the sections C, D and E sections in FIGS. 5-6can provide security and verification of other card or accountinformation. Each or either sections may contain the name and/orsignature of the card holder, a valid thru (expiry) date, credit cardlogos, holograms or any other indicia/information appearing on the frontor back side of the card. For example, this card/skin information can becompared to the printout and authorization information displayed on aMERCHANT COPY of a receipt or a CUSTOMER RECEIPT. Other information thatcan be provided on the front and/or back side of the card and/or skininclude security features for credit or debit card transactions that areused to increase protection against credit card fraud. These include aCard Security Code (CSC), sometimes called Card Verification Value (CVVor CV2), Card Verification Value Code (CVVC), Card Verification Code(CVC), Verification Code (V-Code or V Code), or Card Code Verification(CCV). In particular, there are several common types of security codes:CVC1 or CVV1 (encoded on the magnetic stripe of the card and used fortransactions in person); CVV2 or CVC2 (also known as a CCID or CreditCard ID, and is often asked for by merchants for them to secure “cardnot present” transactions occurring over the Internet, by mail, fax orover the phone); and contactless card and chip cards may supply theirown codes generated electronically, such as iCVV or Dynamic CVV.

Moreover, sections 5C-E and sections 6C-E may be designed to cooperatesuch that information printed or displayed on any of the card sections5C-E and visibly seen through corresponding windows or openings formedin skin sections 6C-E. Alternatively, only some or all information canbe embossed or shown on any of the skin sections 6C-E, which can remainin the possession of the owner when releasing a card formed with amagnetic strip, chip, barcode/barcoding, or other means whichinformation can be electronically or optically read or scanned. Thecorresponding card sections 5C-E in this embodiment could be left blank,masked, crossed-out (XXX) or include fake characters. It shall beunderstood that any of the aforementioned information and electronicenabling technologies can be located on either the card or skin (sleeve)portions interchangeably as with other embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein.

Another aspect of the invention provides methods and apparatus forretrofitting or modifying existing cards to secure displayed informationon its front/back face. For example, an adhesive mask can be placed overportions of the displayed information on an issued card such as anaccount number or credit card number (see FIG. 1). As a result, suchcards which are usually formed with magnetic stripes or barcode canstill be fully operational but do not openly display account information(see FIG. 2). In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a cardissuing bank or financial institution can have at least the options of:(1) producing and issuing secured credit cards, debit cards or ATM cardswith corresponding sleeve or skins described elsewhere herein; or (2)delivering to customers or account members a “kit” with a mask topartially cover credit card or account numbers or other displayedinformation on a card, plus a new sleeve or skin with embossed orimprinted account numbers matching the credit card or account numbers tobe covered by the adhesive mask (which can be delivered or mailedtogether or separately which can provided additional security againsttheft or risk of loss).

In preferable embodiments of the invention, the masks can be selfadhesive or applied when needed. They are preferably formed with a thinlayer of material that will make it easier to slide the retrofitted cardinto a sleeve. At the same time, the mask material is preferably thickenough to adequately hide the numbers or information underneath. Thematerial may be tacky or spongy with an adhesive layer so that outlinesor impressions of numbers or characters underneath are not visible. Themask can be also formed with a tamper evident tape so it will becomeapparent to the owner that attempts were made to pull off the mask togain access to the underlying card information. A variety of patterns,numbers, characters, or logos (AMERICAN EXPRESS) can be imprinted on themask too.

In addition, a sleeve or skin containing the portions of cardinformation described elsewhere herein can be used together with aretrofitted card. For example, FIG. 5 may be used as an example here ofan existing or already issued card. Sections 5A and 5B together providea complete account number. In accordance with this aspect of theinvention, a card issuing institution or holder himself can provide orobtain additional security by masking section 5A of the card with a maskor tamper resistant or evident tape. This would allow information insection 5B to be visible yet protect the holder when the card isreleased to third parties in accordance with the invention. In addition,a corresponding matching sleeve as shown in FIG. 6 can be provided witha section 6A that contains the same information masked in region 5A.Section 6B could be formed with a cut-out window through which section5B is visible. When combined and as needed, the card and sleeve displaysfull account information in sections 6A and 5B. Accordingly, an existingcard can be retrofitted in accordance with the invention to avoid wasteyet provide immediate added security with existing cards and/or until acard issuing entity has sufficient time to produce and deliver cardsprovided in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7A-C illustrates sleeves that may be configured according toprinciples of the invention and contain or house a variety of cardsprovided herein. The sleeves can include complete or partial accountinformation or any other visible information (or none at all) appearingon personal cards carried by a user as described elsewhere. Manyembodiments of the invention provide sleeves that can be convenientlyplaced inside a wallet or other card holding case or device. A sleevecan be formed for wallets having with slots or compartments that allowremoval of a card from the top or in an upward manner, in accordancewith an aspect of the invention (see FIGS. 3-4). Other embodiments allowfor removal of a card sideways, as shown in FIGS. 7A-C. FIG. 7A shows asleeve formed with a thumb slot to more easily grasp a card enclosedtherein. In FIG. 7B, an embodiment is shown having a corner cut-out.FIG. 7C illustrates an embodiment whereby the sleeve substantiallysurrounds an enclosed card but is foldable at a corner to permit accessthereto. In any of these illustrated embodiments, the sleeve may beformed with a front side and a back side bonded or attached together atone or more seams formed along the left side, top side and/or bottomside of the sleeve. At least one of such sides is joined, and at leastone of such sides should remain open to allow access to a card.

Concepts of the invention can be implemented with other credit cardsystems and methods such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,964(Risser), U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,260 (Osher), U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,375(Kamens), U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,795 (Klure), U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,276(Limelette), which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particularimplementations have been illustrated and described, variousmodifications can be made thereto and are contemplated herein. It isalso not intended that the invention be limited by the specific examplesprovided within the specification. While the invention has beendescribed with reference to the aforementioned specification, thedescriptions and illustrations of the preferable embodiments herein arenot meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it shall beunderstood that all aspects of the invention are not limited to thespecific depictions, configurations or relative proportions set forthherein which depend upon a variety of conditions and variables. Variousmodifications in form and detail of the embodiments of the inventionwill be apparent to a person skilled in the art. It is thereforecontemplated that the invention shall also cover any such modifications,variations and equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A two-part credit card assembly for displaying acomplete credit card account number that is arranged into at least threegroups of numbers comprising: a. a credit card for displaying at leastone group of numbers corresponding to the credit card account number,and formed with a magnetic stripe that is readable by a merchant creditcard reader; and b. a credit card envelope for displaying the at leasttwo remaining groups of numbers corresponding to the credit card accountnumber, and wherein the credit card envelope is formed with an openingor window through which the at least one group of numbers displayed onthe credit card corresponding to the credit account number is visiblewhen the credit card is stored within the credit card envelope totogether display the complete credit card account number, and furtherwherein only the at least one group of numbers is visible on the creditcard when removed from the credit card envelope to effect a transactionusing the magnetic stripe on the credit card thereby visibly protectingthe complete credit card account number.
 2. The credit card assembly asrecited in claim 1 wherein the credit card envelope includes one or moreof the following: a name and/or signature of a card holder, a valid thru(expiry) date, a credit card logo, hologram, or a security code that isuseable for card not present transactions.
 3. The credit card assemblyas recited in claim 1 wherein the credit card envelope is configured forplacement in a wallet, and is formed of reinforced paper for allowingthe credit card to be slidably removed from the credit card envelopethus allowing the credit card envelope to remain in the wallet.
 4. Abank issued card comprising: a. a magnetically readable card thatincludes a magnetic stripe on either a front or back side of the card,wherein the card further includes a first part of an imprintedunembossed account number that is printed thereon by a bank issuing thebank card; and b. a protective skin that includes a second part of theimprinted unembossed account number that is printed thereon by the bankissuing the bank card, and wherein the protective skin is formed with atop or side opening for slidably receiving the card but leaving exposedthe magnetic stripe on the card, and further wherein the protective skinincludes a window or opening through which the first part of the accountnumber on the card therein is visible and only together with the secondpart of the account number on the protective skin provides a completeaccount number, thereby allowing the magnetic stripe on the card to beswiped by a card reader either together or separately from protectiveskin.
 5. A two-part debit or credit card comprising: a. a plastic cardportion that displays a first series of digits which correspond to adebit or credit card account number, wherein the plastic card portionfurther includes a magnetic stripe that can be read by a merchant cardreader; and b. a sleeve portion for receiving the plastic card portiontherein that displays a second series of digits which correspond to thedebit or credit card account number, wherein the sleeve portion isformed with an opening through which the first series of digitsdisplayed on the plastic card portion the account number is visible, andwherein (i) the first series of digits and the second series of digitsare displayed together corresponding to the complete debit or creditcard account number when the plastic card portion is at least partiallycontained within the sleeve portion, and further wherein (ii) thecomplete debit or credit card account number is protected when only thefirst series of digits which correspond to the debit or credit cardaccount number is visible when the plastic card portion is removed andseparated from the sleeve portion to allow the magnetic stripe on theplastic card portion to be swiped or read by the merchant card reader toeffect a merchant transaction.